The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-01-14

she had bad recitation in progress,
and that he was meddlesome rat, al
ways wanting to lend her his books,
and looking displeased if she failed to
read them and adopt their new-fangled
notions.
We held week. steachers' meetings"
at which we were all expected to be
present, and at each of which one
model lesson was given. These were
not begun until the second week, and
as was the last called upon to give
one, my turn did not come until the
sixth week of school. l had prepared
myself thoroughly and drilled my class
with great care, but, as my pupils
ranged before me, passing up the worn
stairs and through the long hall, my
heart almost failed. What could ac-
complish with his eye upon me? Never
yet had he entered my room but / had
grown confused and committed out
rageous blunders; would the jealous
eyes of the other teachers, who did not
wish to be outdone, lessen my embar-
rassment or add to it?
Near the upper end of the hall Matte
Merlin joined me, and, with q nudge
and a giggle, whispered:
won't you thank your stars, Ray,
when it's over? 0 my! you'll make
failure, I'm sure! We are all geese be-
fore his High Mightiness, Lord Swazee,
and you are worse than any of us. |
never saw you put out until he came,
and now you are the sun-dial and he
is the sun. We can always tell when
the sun shines on the dial by the color
of its face"
Should | make good her words and
thus put the keen sting of truth in her
coarse taunt? l asked myself. No! /
would put myself down! would for
get Mr. Swazee and the other teachers.
| would remember my work alone, and
enter upon it with my old-time natural
enthusiasm. AS I walked into the
school-room and paced slowly up the
aisle toward it's front, was nerving
myself, summoning all the strength and
courage of my nature to my aid. And
| did not fail. My success was so
marked that it surprised me. If ever
[ was brilliant in my life l was brilliant
on that October afternoon, with it's
waning sunlight slanting through the
high windows. 1t is mistake to think
the work of teacher is all dull routine,
leaving no margin for original genius
and personal power. Emily Knox told
me afterward that I had electrified
them all, but the others were stiffiy
silent.
Once during the passage of the reel
tation | had caught peculiar look in
| the eye of Mr.. SWazee. | had not
dared to lift my eyes to his face again
until its close, when | expected some
little word of commentator, but he
withheld my just praise from me and
was afterWard, if possible, more cold
toward me than before. So far as was
able to judge from his actions he had
taken dislike to me at our introduce
tory meeting, and it had strengthened
as the long weeks passed Toward the
other teachers his manner was kind
and friendly-to Nellie Melville some
thing more than friendly, thought
for me, alone, there was reserve and
GOODNESS, almost iciness.
After that first model lesson given BY
me Mr.. Swazee did not visit my de-
partment for months. Even the exam
nations conducted by him in all other
grades were left to me in mine. We
met in the halls and bowed each other
a reserved good morning. We met at
teachers meetings and wasted no
words upon each other. If changes in
school routines demanded communica-
lions between us all was done by means
OF curt notes saying the necessary
words, no more. And yet / loved Mr..
Swazee, and the love was growing
every day in spite of the hopelessness
of it. l had not tried to crush it out.
Why should IP The experience was
an entirely new one. After twenty
four years of life without love | was
glad to find myself in possession of
capacity for loving.
Quite aside from the question of
whether or not was loved in return,
there was exquisite pleasure for me in
my love. l exulted in it; my mind ran
riot in this new delight. listened for
the sound of his voice in the hall, |
thrilled at the touch of his formal notes
| watched covertly while he descended
the stairs after the days work was
ended, though Nellie Melville, with her
airs and graces and her carefully dis
| played arm, was almost certain to
descend by his side, and Matte Merlin
and Miss Griller, with their chatter and
their giggling, usually followed closely.
Nellie was the principals assistant,
Matte and Miss Griller taught on the
second floor, and Emily Knox and my
self, primary teachers, occupied the
lower rooms. How the children loved
Mr.. Swazee! He was, indeed, kind and
gracious and considerate with them,
with all save me.
One morning l was early, reaching
the school-house before time for open
ing the doors. Nellie Melville was be-
fore me. She sat on the doorstep with
rapt look on her face, though her
eyes were turned precisely in the direc-
ton of an old mill chimney that was
far enough from beautiful, and her chin
resting in her hand. The morning was
rather cool for displaying the arm, but
in lieu thereof | saw a wondrously fit
ting high glove in which it was en-
cased.
"He has not yet come, she is waiting
and posing for him. thought I. She
did not change her attitude in the least
as / drew near. had lecture in store
for her, and, thinking better time for
its delivery might not soon present
itself, said:
"Nelie, you remember telling me,
long ago, that you were affianc ed to